Alan Baxter

answers the Usual Questions

Alan Baxter is a Ditmar Award-nominated British-Australian author. He writes dark fantasy, horror and sci-fi, rides a motorcycle and loves his dog. He also teaches Kung Fu.

As well as fiction, Alan is a freelance writer penning reviews, feature articles and opinion. He's a contributing editor and co-founder at Thirteen O'Clock -- Australian Dark Fiction News & Reviews, and co-hosts AuthorCast, a thriller and genre fiction podcast.

Alan Baxter photo by Trudi Canavan

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

Definitely. If nothing else, it's always very motivating. Cons especially always leave me invigorated and keen to get back to work.

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

The first time someone I didn't know approached me at a con and I realised they were nervous to be meeting me and tell me how much they enjoyed a book of mine was a truly humbling experience. They wanted to know when I had another book coming out. I'm still blown way when that happens.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

So many! Clive Barker, Alan Moore, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Ursula K Le Guin and more have always been strong influences on my work and continue to be so. Blade Runner, Dark City, Labyrinth. Sandman, Hellblazer... I could go on and on! Honestly, there are just so many.

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

Myself, aged about 18. I would start off by giving myself a hearty congratulations for surviving through my 20s and let myself know it's all gonna be okay. Then I would have a few very serious words of advice for me. Can you imagine it? Obviously, it would need to be a time-travelling spaceship. Or time-travelling lift...Now there's a story idea: A lift, where every floor you go is another year forward or back in time. Would you risk riding in The Temporal Elevator!? 'Scuse me, gotta go write a story...

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

Ridley Scott. He was my favourite director ever, he made the best film of all time (Blade Runner), the best space horror film ever (Alien), but if we were alone together we'd eventually start talking about Prometheus and then I'd have to kill him.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

An iPad jam-packed with books and music. Lots of potato chips. Lots of single malt scotch. Pretty much the same as I need here. Anything else is gravy.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

An ongoing career. If people continue to read and enjoy my stories, I'll consider myself a success and I'll get to keep doing it. I can't imagine a better result than that.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

It gets the voices out of my head : )

submitted by Alan Baxter

14 July 2014

For other answers to The Usual Questions Click here

Just the facts:
Born: Born and raised in England, lived almost the last couple of decades in Australia.
Resides: Dairy country on the south coast of NSW.
Bibliography/Awards:
There's a full bibliography page on my website and a list of award nominations, etc. at the end of it.

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